From editor@telecom-digest.org Tue Aug 24 14:47:58 2004 Received: (from ptownson@localhost) by massis.lcs.mit.edu (8.11.6p3/8.11.6) id i7OIlwa22133; Tue, 24 Aug 2004 14:47:58 -0400 (EDT) Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2004 14:47:58 -0400 (EDT) From: editor@telecom-digest.org Message-Id: <200408241847.i7OIlwa22133@massis.lcs.mit.edu> X-Authentication-Warning: massis.lcs.mit.edu: ptownson set sender to editor@telecom-digest.org using -f To: ptownson Approved: patsnewlist Subject: TELECOM Digest V23 #398 TELECOM Digest Tue, 24 Aug 2004 14:48:00 EDT Volume 23 : Issue 398 Inside This Issue: Editor: Patrick A. Townson FCC Chairman Calls for New Laws Regards VOIP (Jack Decker-VOIP News) 8x8 Adds Fry's Electronics to List of Retailers (Jack Decker-VOIP News) Vonage and Linksys Team Up to Redefine Telecom Marketplace (Decker-VOIP) Vonage, Staples Offer VOIP Telephony via Office Supply Store (VOIP News) Re: International Call Forwarding to US, UK or Germany Needed (D Helman) Re: Microsoft Pays Dear For Insults Through Ignorance (Henry) Re: Microsoft Changed My Mind (Geoffrey Welsh) Re: Microsoft Changed My Mind (Paul Vader) Re: VoicePulse Rated Best VoIP Phone Service Provider (Isaiah Beard) Re: VoicePulse Rated Best VoIP Phone Service Provider (Tim@Backhome.org) Re: Book Review: Fighting Spam for Dummies, Levine/Young/Church (Levine) Display Forwarding Phone Number in Caller ID when multiringing (Munsey) Re: Suggestions For USB Phone? (Ted Klugman) Re: Number Transportability for VOIP? (yeltrabnhoj@email.com) Re: Internet Patent Claims Stir Concern (Clarence Dold) All contents here are copyrighted by Patrick Townson and the individual writers/correspondents. Articles may be used in other journals or newsgroups, provided the writer's name and the Digest are included in the fair use quote. By using -any name or email address- included herein for -any- reason other than responding to an article herein, you agree to pay a hundred dollars to the recipients of the email. =========================== Addresses herein are not to be added to any mailing list, nor to be sold or given away without explicit written consent. Chain letters, viruses, porn, spam, and miscellaneous junk are definitely unwelcome. We must fight spam for the same reason we fight crime: not because we are naive enough to believe that we will ever stamp it out, but because we do not want the kind of world that results when no one stands against crime. Geoffrey Welsh =========================== See the bottom of this issue for subscription and archive details and the name of our lawyer; other stuff of interest. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Jack Decker Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2004 12:58:44 -0400 Subject: FCC Chairman Calls For New Telecom Laws Reply-To: VoIPnews@yahoogroups.com http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1104-5321042.html By Declan McCullagh CNET News.com ASPEN, Colo.--The head of the Federal Communications Commission said on Monday that the nation's telecommunications laws, written before the rise of the Internet, are "broken" and need to be fixed by Congress. "Is the current law broken and we need a new one? Of course," said FCC Chairman Michael Powell. The law is "dated -- it does not match reality anymore." Powell's comments at a Progress and Freedom Foundation conference here mark his strongest criticism yet of the 1934 and 1996 telecommunications acts, which created arcane regulatory categories that do not clearly include the Internet. That lack of clarity has bedeviled regulators and left entrepreneurs puzzled about what laws might eventually apply to their businesses. Powell singled out voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) as a "killer app for legal policy change" because it pits two different regulatory models against each other and forces governments to choose which will prevail. The two models: a highly-regulated "common carrier" environment of cable TV and telephone service, and the lightly-regulated world of the Internet. Full story at: http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1104-5321042.html http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~33~2354297,00.html FCC chief: Reform 1996 Telecom Act By Julie Dunn Denver Post Staff Writer Aspen - In a candid question-and-answer session covering everything from voice over Internet protocol to Washington politics, Federal Communications Chairman Michael Powell spoke about the future of the regulatory agency. "We've tried to build an institution that is more concerned with looking forward than looking backward and one that understands the transformative power of the computer and innovation revolution that has driven some of the greatest inventions in technology in history," he said. Powell spoke Monday at the Aspen Summit, the 10th annual telecommuni- cations and technology gathering sponsored by the Progress & Freedom Foundation, a Washington think tank that favors deregulatory policies. Powell said he has tried to shift the agency's focus to emerging technologies such as voice over Internet protocol. "VoIP is a defining issue. It can't be ignored in its current manifestation," he said. "This thing has a resonance, a tangibility and a speed that I think are going to drive it in a way; it's a killer ap (application) for legal policy change." Full story at: http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~33~2354297,00.html How to Distribute VoIP Throughout a Home: http://michigantelephone.mi.org/distribute.html If you live in Michigan, subscribe to the MI-Telecom group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MI-Telecom/ ------------------------------ From: Jack Decker Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2004 12:11:06 -0400 Subject: 8x8 Adds Fry's Electronics to Growing List of Packet8 Retailers Reply-To: VoIPnews@yahoogroups.com http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/08-24-2004/0002237469&STORY&EDATE= SANTA CLARA, Calif., Aug. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- 8x8, Inc. (Nasdaq: EGHT), the Packet8 broadband voice over internet protocol (VoIP) and videophone communications service provider, announced that beginning August 27th, Fry's Electronics, a leading electronics retailer serving the western U.S., will be offering the Packet8 Broadband Videophone and Packet8 Broadband Phone Adapter. The 28 store chain, with locations in California, Arizona, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, Illinois, Georgia and Texas, is considered one of the industry's premiere retailers of products representing the latest technological trends and advances in the personal computer marketplace. 8x8's Internet telephony service offerings consistently display feature and capability achievements on the cutting edge of communication technology, including the industry's first enhanced E911 calling capability and the technological sophistication of the new Packet8 DV326 videophone, introduced in June 2004. The Packet8 Broadband Videophone transmits high quality audio and crisp instant-on video communications over a standard broadband Internet connection with the ease and convenience of regular telephone service. Previous videophone technology has been limited by bandwidth capabilities of the PSTN (public switched telephone network), which hampered the delivery of crisp real-time video images. Because it is based on SIP, an international Internet protocol standard, the Packet8 videophone achieves a level of technology and performance sophistication previously not possible. The Packet8 Broadband Phone Adapter enables Internet users to enhance the functionality of their high speed connection with a telephone service that is affordable, as easy to use as a regular telephone, and bundled with many advanced features not included with traditional circuit-switched telephone services. Packet8 recently became the first VoIP residential telephone service to offer "real" E911 service, which automatically routes calls and computer-based "screen pops" of caller information to emergency personnel at local Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs). "We are very pleased that a respected retail chain like Fry's has acknowledged the strength and potential of our Packet8 offerings," said Huw Rees, 8x8 Vice President of Marketing & Sales. "Our voice products represent the industry's easiest to use and most affordable VoIP telephone service available, and our broadband videophone service opens up new ways of communicating and staying in touch with friends and family. Consumers that are thinking about trying VoIP and broadband communications can get 'hands-on' with Packet8 at all Fry's Electronics locations." Full press release at: http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/08-24-2004/0002237469&STORY&EDATE= ------------------------------ From: Jack Decker Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2004 11:48:48 -0400 Subject: Vonage(R) and Linksys(R) Team Up to Redefine Telecom Marketplace Reply-To: VoIPnews@yahoogroups.com http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/08-24-2004/0002237388&EDATE= Capitalizing on Linksys' Retail Strength and Brand Awareness, Vonage Expands Device Options for Consumers EDISON, N.J. and IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Vonage, the leading broadband phone company and Linksys, a division of Cisco Systems, Inc. today announced a relationship that will redefine the way consumers and small businesses communicate. Vonage will now be offering its broadband telephony service for use with two different Linksys Voice over IP (VoIP) devices to meet the ever-growing broadband communications marketplace. Customers can now choose products for their home or small business broadband telephony needs with a number of Linksys options that fit their requirements. Vonage subscribers will be offered a choice of the Linksys (PAP2) Phone Adapter with 2 Phone Ports or the (RT31P2) Broadband Router with 2 Phone Ports. In a few weeks, Linksys will also make available a Wireless-G Router with 2 phone ports (WRT54GP2). "Linksys' retail channel strength and leadership in broadband networking solutions hardware development makes it an ideal partner as Vonage continues to redefine the standard for home and small business telephone service," stated Jeffrey A. Citron, chairman and CEO of Vonage. "We are very excited about the opportunity to now offer our customers the advantage of receiving their equipment from a company such as Linksys, which is known for its high-level performance and reliability." The Vonage and Linksys relationship enables consumers and small businesses to easily set up a high-quality feature-rich phone service via their broadband connection, at significantly reduced rates in comparison to traditional telephone service. Further, this collaboration offers retailers a ground- breaking opportunity to increase sales and expand into a new category, capitalizing on Vonage's leadership in broadband telephony and Linksys' retail strength in home and broadband networking solutions. "Linksys is utilizing Cisco's leadership, experience and R&D in VoIP to bring this fast growing technology to consumers and small office environments everywhere," said Charlie Giancarlo, President of Cisco-Linksys. "Teaming with Vonage will enable Linksys to expand the audience for its products while helping us to achieve our goal of bringing new, IP-based communications and entertainment services and applications into the home." Both the Linksys Phone Adapter (PAP2) and Broadband Router with Voice (RT31P2) are equipped with two standard telephone jacks, support session initiation protocol (SIP), and are compatible with a cable or DSL high-speed Internet connection. Both devices have Web-based configuration through a built-in web server, offer high quality, clear sounding voice service and are compatible with all common telephone features: caller ID, call waiting, voicemail, etc. The RT31P2 Broadband Router features three 10/100 BaseT Ethernet ports, supports advanced security management functions for port filtering, MAC address filtering, DMZ hosting and Quality of Service (QoS) to ensure best voice quality. The router also supports Universal Plug-and Play for easy set up and can act as a DHCP server. "Together, Vonage and Linksys offer everything a customer needs to make high-quality, inexpensive phone calls," said Jeffrey Citron. Availability Customers can sign up for Vonage phone service and purchase the Linksys VoIP devices at http://www.vonage.com or by calling 1-VONAGE-HELP. The Linksys Phone Adapter with 2 Phone Ports (PAP2) and the Linksys Broadband Router with 2-Phone Ports (RT31P2) bundled with Vonage phone service offerings are immediately available at select retailers throughout the United States. The Wireless-G Router with 2 Phone Ports will be available in a few weeks. Full press release at: http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/08-24-2004/0002237388&EDATE= ------------------------------ From: Jack Decker Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2004 12:28:36 -0400 Subject: Vonage(R) and Staples(R) Offer Broadband Telephony in an Office Reply-To: VoIPnews@yahoogroups.com http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/08-24-2004/0002237389&STORY&EDATE= Vonage(R) and Staples(R) Are the First to Offer Broadband Telephony in an Office Supply Chain Nationwide EDISON, N.J., Aug. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Vonage, the leading broadband phone company, today announced Staples, Inc. (Nasdaq: SPLS) as the first national office supply chain to offer Vonage services in all of its approximately 1,200 stores throughout the United States and online at http://www.staples.com. High-speed Internet customers, who have a standard telephone, can sign up for Vonage service by purchasing one of two Vonage starters kit at Staples, both featuring Linksys devices. Either device will allow customers to make unlimited calls in the U.S. and Canada for one low, flat monthly rate starting at $14.99. "Staples' national roll-out of Vonage's service is evidence of the transformation of the telecommunications industry and the need to make broadband telephony more readily available to the general consumer market," stated Daniel Elwell, director of New Business Development for Vonage. "We are looking forward to a successful sales relationship with the world's largest office supply chain." Full press release at: http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/08-24-2004/0002237389&STORY&EDATE= ------------------------------ Subject: Re: International Call Forwarding to US, UK or Germany Needed From: David Helman Organization: NY Office Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2004 00:42:26 GMT John Levine wrote in news:telecom23.396.10@telecom-digest.org: >> I have a customer with special requirement. I need to get one >> telephone number in as many countries as possible (except the US, UK, >> and Germany) to forward a call to either my telephone number (DID) in >> either the US, UK, or Germany (whichever is cheaper). > This sounds like an ideal application for Lingo's VoIP service. > Their basic business service is $50/mo for a US phone number with > unlimited calling to the US, Canada, Mexico, and most of western > Europe. For $10/mo each you can add incoming local numbers in > Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, > the Netherlands, South Korea, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom. > Incoming calls are free. > You can attach your Lingo box to any broadband connection, so the > phone can be wherever you are, and if you want, you can call forward > the calls to any other POTS number. > Regards, > John Levine johnl@iecc.com Primary Perpetrator of The Internet for > Dummies, Information Superhighwayman wanna-be, > http://www.johnlevine.com, Mayor "A book is a sneeze." - E.B. White, > on the writing of Charlotte's Web Good Idea John, However, my customer wants non-toll free numbers. As some of the telephone numbers will be used regional from nearby countries, toll free numbers could be hard to call. I did research Lingo, they limit you to two international numbers per account. If toll-free would meet my customers needs, this would be a great deal, as the cost would work out to $ 25 per country with no toll charges. Joseph wrote in news:telecom23.396.11@telecom-digest.org: > On Sun, 22 Aug 2004 15:56:39 GMT, David Helman > wrote: >> I have a customer with special requirement. I need to get one >> telephone number in as many countries as possible (except the US, UK, >> and Germany) to forward a call to either my telephone number (DID) in >> either the US, UK, or Germany (whichever is cheaper). >> There are several ways to do this, but I think this would be the >> best and cheapest way: >> Have the local phone company install a single telephone line (POTS). >> This could be at a home or business (which ever is cheaper/easier). >> This telephone line should have call forwarding (maybe known as call >> divert, or something else by your local phone company). Once this is >> done, I will ask that the phone number be forwarded to a telephone >> number (direct dial to a DID) in either the US, UK, or Germany, >> depending on which is the least expensive call from your country. >> I of course will pay for the cost to install the service and all >> usage charges. In addition, I will pay a 10% premium over the cost >> of the service or if you prefer, provide you with a free voice mail >> number in New York, London, or Germany (your choice) with messages >> forwarded to you via e-mail. This is a USD$ 15 monthly value. While >> neither the 10% or free voice mail is a lot of compensation, you >> would have helped me a great deal in meeting the special requirement >> of one of my customers, which would be very much appreciated by me >> and my customer. > I may not be understanding what you wish to do, but what *is* > available is the ability to get local numbers in several different > countries including the UK, Germany, France and Spain that will > forward to to other countries. Kall8 has such a service. > http://www.kall8international.com/ Thanks for the suggestion, but if I only need to take in voice mails and faxes, this would be easy. I need to backhaul the call to my one of my IVRs. My IVRs are in the US, UK, and Germany only. ------------------------------ From: henry999@eircom.net (Henry) Subject: Re: Microsoft Pays Dear For Insults Through Ignorance Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2004 09:16:17 +0300 Organization: Elisa Internet customer Joseph wrote: > ... And just to inform the country in South America is *not* > Columbia it is Colombia!!!!! > [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: A lady in Colombia called me on the > phone once and in our discussion (about something else) she complained > to me that "most people in the USA think our country is spelled > the same as 'District of Columbia' because they do not know better." > PAT] As a university teacher for many years, I was often frustrated by students who said things like "Columbia ... Colombia ... what's the big deal?!?" However, when computers started to come into academia, things did begin to get better. The kids eventually realised that if they wanted the machine to do something, they had to follow the machine's rules -- and no amount of 'attitude' would change that. Monty Solomon wrote: > Paul Brown, environment correspondent > ... Tom Edwards ... senior geopolitical strategist ... said that as > a geographer himself it was depressing that Americans had a > reputation for being particularly unaware of the rest of the > world. The annual National Geographic Survey had thrown up the sad > fact that only 23 out of 56 young Americans knew the whereabouts of > the Pacific Ocean. I have always liked maps and I will admit to reading these (almost annual, it seems) shock! horror! reports with more than a little _Schadenfreude_. I saw one a few years ago -- sorry, don't remember now just where -- in which something like 1/3 of the freshman Geography 101 students completing the questionnaire could not find on the map the city where they were!!! Cheers, Henry [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: These horror stories are all too common for my comfort. The Chicago Tribune once did a story on this theme with students at a high school in Chicago. The Tribune gave students a test with just a few questions: (1) What is the name of the place where you live? (2) On the (totally blank - devoid of city names or state names) map attached, mark an 'X' where that place is located. (3) What is the name of the state where that place you live is located? (4) With lines, make an *approximate* drawing of where that place is located on the map. And from there on, the remainder of the eighty or so questions got increasingly more difficult, including such things as 'name entirely the list of various states in the USA; how many are there in total; name the geographic center of the country you live in, etc. Most -- but not all -- of the students got the first four or five questions correct. Any number thought 'New Mexico' was part of Mexico instead of USA. The person who first answered me in this thread suggested that political science was more important than geography per se; to know more 'important things' rather than such 'trivialities' as capitol cities in those places, etc, and *he was correct in large part*, but when taken in total context with how overall ignorant so many Americans are when put on a scale with their arrogance his thoughts about political science were so unrealistic. First, people need to know their own country like the palm of their hand, *then* begin investigating the rest of the world. I've told a few old Chicago area friends I now live in 'Kansas' (forget for a minute about Independence or the other small towns) and when they hear 'Kansas' they immediatly begin remarking on Kansas City (which is actually in Missouri and a few hundred miles north and east of here; I am *no where* close to that place.) That's how bad things are in geography in this country. PAT] ------------------------------ From: Geoffrey Welsh Subject: Re: Microsoft Changed My Mind Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2004 08:10:16 -0400 Organization: Primus Canada Yeah, this XP registration thing IS scary, especially (as Steve found out) since the registration invalidates itself if several characteristics of the system (e.g. hard drive size, RAM, installed I/O devices) change ... so, if you've got a home/OEM version of XP, don't upgrade multiple components at once or you'll have the same experience Steve did! However, it's worth noting that not all verions of XP are activated in this way. The volume-licensed versions for corporate customers don't require activation; perhaps this applies to all versions of XP Professional, and only the Home version includes the activation fiasco? Geoffrey Welsh VOTE FOR BUSH IN 2004 because the Founding Fathers were just kidding about that liberty stuff. [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Isn't Win 98 or Win 2000 actually preferable and more flexible for most people anyway? PAT] ------------------------------ From: pv+usenet@pobox.com (Paul Vader) Subject: Re: Microsoft Changed My Mind Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2004 15:17:03 -0000 Organization: Inline Software Creations Quoting a digest article, pv+usenet@pobox.com (Paul Vader) writes: > According to pv+usenet@pobox.com (Paul Vader), TELECOM Digest Editor > opened his mouth and taught the people saying: Pat, is your moderation software altering posts in transit? I certainly didn't use that rude salutation on any of my messages (anything I reply to just says " writes:" unless I add to it like I did here), and I've seen at least a couple messages with broken sigdashes as well. I haven't seen that happen here before. * * PV something like badgers--something like lizards--and something like corkscrews. [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: No Paul, the software is okay. Its just my sense of humor -- like that of most sick puppies -- that's a bit warped. I promise it won't happen again, and you know what all my promises are worth. PAT] ------------------------------ From: Isaiah Beard Subject: Re: VoicePulse Rated Best VoIP Phone Service Provider in PC Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2004 10:44:13 -0400 The big drawback of VoicePulse (well, it might not be a drawback for some, but it is to me) is that they seem to be the only VoIP provider that does NOT offer unlimited calling to Canada. And I still don't get why there's such a huge spread in monthly rates among the carriers. AT&T thinks they can charge $34.95 (after 6 months ... maybe it's just that people see $19.99 in big type and assume that's the rate forever, when it's just an intro rate), VoicePulse's low-use plan offers 200 minutes less than Vonage's similarly priced plan, and Packet8 undercuts most of the major players with their unlimited plan by $10 to $20. I don't quite buy the brand recognition argument, because all of the services are new and untested, and the model certainly doesn't work in the traditional LD market where the rate spread is almost nonexistent now. And the "don't cares" of the telephony world -- the consumers who haven't bothered to choose an LD rate plan and just get billed exhorbitant AT&T "no plan" rates -- probably won't start caring anytime soon, or at leat not enough to switch to VoIP anyway. Jack Decker wrote in message news:telecom23.397.10@telecom-digest.org: > http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/08-23-2004/0002237079&EDATE= > Company Outperforms Vonage and AT&T CallVantage > JAMESBURG, N.J., Aug. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- VoicePulse Inc. has been > rated the best VoIP phone service provider in PC Magazine's September > 2004 issue. The review compares VoicePulse with competition including > Vonage's DigitalVoice and AT&T's CallVantage. > The review, resulting from weeks of thorough evaluation in the > Ziff-Davis test labs, concluded: "We were extremely impressed with the > breadth of features offered by VoicePulse and its easy to navigate Web > interface." This latest achievement comes on the heels of another > award for VoicePulse when, in May 2004, PC World Magazine gave its PC > World BEST BUY rating to the company's service. > The PC Magazine review, VoIP: Finally Worth a Look, can be found at > http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1630778,00.asp. VoicePulse > allows consumers to use their existing cable or DSL Internet > connection for phone service. The service includes traditional > features such as Caller ID, Call Waiting, Call Forward and Voicemail > as well as a host of advanced features such as Distinctive Ring, Call > Filters, Telemarketer Block and Anonymous Call Block. Consumers need > only a high-speed Internet connection and an ordinary touch-tone > telephone to use the service. VoicePulse uses Voice-over-IP > technology to deliver broadband phone service. VoicePulse's services > include: > * Unlimited local, regional and US long distance calling for $24.99 per > month > * Unlimited local, regional and 200 US long distance minutes for $14.99 > per month > * Advanced features including Voicemail, Telemarketer Blocking, Do Not > Disturb, Anonymous Call Rejection, Distinctive Ring > * Voicemail with optional e-mail delivery of messages as sound > attachments > * Choose your own area code > * Low international calling rates > About VoicePulse > VoicePulse is a New Jersey based communications company that uses > its VoIP network to deliver advanced features and high-quality phone > service to residential and small-business consumers. The company leads > the industry in delivering innovative features and excellent customer > service. For more information about VoicePulse, please visit > http://www.voicepulse.com. VoicePulse is a trademark of VoicePulse > Inc. ------------------------------ From: Tim@Backhome.org Subject: Re: VoicePulse Rated Best VoIP Phone Service Provider in PC Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2004 05:56:56 -0700 Organization: Cox Communications I'd suggest that PC Magazine is far from objective or even thorough in their recommendations. Jack Decker wrote: > http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/08-23-2004/0002237079&EDATE= > Company Outperforms Vonage and AT&T CallVantage > JAMESBURG, N.J., Aug. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- VoicePulse Inc. has been > rated the best VoIP phone service provider in PC Magazine's September > 2004 issue. The review compares VoicePulse with competition including > Vonage's DigitalVoice and AT&T's CallVantage. > The review, resulting from weeks of thorough evaluation in the > Ziff-Davis test labs, concluded: "We were extremely impressed with the > breadth of features offered by VoicePulse and its easy to navigate Web > interface." This latest achievement comes on the heels of another > award for VoicePulse when, in May 2004, PC World Magazine gave its PC > World BEST BUY rating to the company's service. ------------------------------ Date: 24 Aug 2004 04:34:01 -0000 From: John Levine Subject: Re: Book Review: Fighting Spam for Dummies, Levine/Young/Church Organization: I.E.C.C., Trumansburg NY USA > "Fighting Spam for Dummies", John R. Levine/Margaret Levine Young/Ray > Everett-Church, 2004, 0-7645-5965-6, U$14.99/C$21.99/UK#9.99 I don't know what Rob Slade's problem is with the books I write. His reviews are so full of petty complaints and factual errors that it's hard to recognize the book he's reviewing as the one I wrote. In this review, for example, in the chapter on desktop spam filter programs he complains that we don't mention spamassassin. Well, of course, that's because it runs on Unix servers, not Windows desktops. I could go point by point but you get idea. This book is quite short so I'd suggest that anyone interested in it take a look at it at a bookstore (or any of the zillion other stores that carry Dummies books) and draw their own conclusion. Regards, John Levine johnl@iecc.com Primary Perpetrator of The Internet for Dummies, Information Superhighwayman wanna-be, http://www.johnlevine.com, Mayor "More Wiener schnitzel, please", said Tom, revealingly. ------------------------------ From: john@munsey.net (John Munsey Jr) Subject: Display Forwarding Phone Number in Caller ID When Multiringing Date: 24 Aug 2004 00:23:14 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com I am curious if any VOIP service such as Vonage, Packet8, Broadvoice, etc can do the following: When forwarding a call to another phone (i.e cell phone), display in the caller id of the other phone something that indicates it is a forwarded call. I would like to distinguish incoming calls on the cell phone. Is the caller calling my cell direct or calling my voip line? Any ideas? Thx. John M ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2004 15:28:14 GMT From: Ted Klugman Subject: Re: Suggestions For USB Phone? Organization: Optimum Online On 22 Aug 2004 21:46:06 -0400, John R Levine wrote: > I've been lugging my Vonage ATA around to hotels which works but is a > pain in the patoot once I set up my laptop as a router and cables and > whatnot and borrow a phone from somewhere. > There are lots of VoIp packages that work with USB phones. But I > don't know anything about USB phones. Any suggestions for a good or > bad one? > I realize there are standalone VoIP phones like the Grandstream, but > that's not what I want, since I doubt they can negotiate the signon on > hotel networks and they need separate power, just like the ATA. I > could also just plug a headset into the sound card on my laptop, but I > gather a USB phone has better sound and also feels like a phone. I've used two with my Cisco IP SoftPhone: Clarisys i750 -- a very good phone. Great voice quality, and acceptable built-in speakerphone. Volume is excellent. Only downer is that it's a bit bulky, and the cable comes out the wrong end (the top). They discontinued the i750 and were going to release the i750H, which is compatible with a plug-in headset. As of the last time I checked (a couple months ago), the i750H was delayed. GN Netcom USB headset (I don't have a model number offhand) - Decent. Volume is a bit low. Voice quality is decent. ------------------------------ From: yeltrabnhoj@email.com Subject: Re: Number Transportability for VOIP? Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2004 15:40:44 GMT Organization: (reverse to reply) (John Bartley, K7AAY, Portland OR) On 6 Aug 2004 07:10:28 -0700, dan04@comcast.net (Dan) wrote: > Will I ever be able to sign up for VOIP and keep my existing POTS > (landline) phone number? I did, three months ago. Qworst 'lost' the order; it took a second call to them to get them to process the paperwork they acknowledged they already had, and two more phone calls to get them to stop billing us for the phone number Vonage took. John Bartley K7AAY http://celdata.cjb.net This post quad-ROT-13 encrypted; reading it violates the DMCA. Nobody but a fool goes into a federal counterrorism operation without duct tape - Richard Preston, THE COBRA EVENT. ------------------------------ From: dold@InternetXP.usenet.us.com Subject: Re: Internet Patent Claims Stir Concern Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2004 15:49:21 UTC Organization: a2i network Robert Bonomi wrote: > NO ONE _I_ know has ever gotten any spam traceable to having given an > address to the NY Times. This encompasses 40+ NYT-online subscribers. 41+. I have received no SPAM from NYTimes. Just inline ads. They have begun to use a background protocol that will _eventually_ download huge data files even over the slowest link, so that you can view high quality advertisements. You may notice a "Applet TransitionSensor running" message appear briefly in an IE status bar. I block their popups, and route most of the advertising links to 127.0.0.1, but I haven't figured out how to stop the downloads of the transitional advertisements. Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley (Lake County) CA USA 38.8-122.5 ------------------------------ TELECOM Digest is an electronic journal devoted mostly but not exclusively to telecommunications topics. It is circulated anywhere there is email, in addition to various telecom forums on a variety of networks such as Compuserve and America On Line, Yahoo Groups, and other forums. It is also gatewayed to Usenet where it appears as the moderated newsgroup 'comp.dcom.telecom'. TELECOM Digest is a not-for-profit, mostly non-commercial educational service offered to the Internet by Patrick Townson. All the contents of the Digest are compilation-copyrighted. You may reprint articles in some other media on an occasional basis, but please attribute my work and that of the original author. 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